My Beef Checkoff: May dairy edition

Have You Herd…

… “Like” MyBeefCheckoff on Facebook for regular news and updates about your Beef Checkoff Program.

… Be sure to check out MyBeefCheckoff on YouTube to watch videos from dairy producers across the country.

… Hear more from cattlewoman Sarah Childs, Florida, about how the beef checkoff is teaching producers

May Quality Tip:  Your Veterinarian -- A Critical Partner 

An ongoing relationship with a practicing herd veterinarian is critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of your dairy animals. The checkoff-funded Dairy Animal Care Quality Assurance (DACQA) guidelines  stress the importance of a valid veterinary client/patient relationship (VCPR). That includes having your veterinarian make regular herd visits, provide employee training and develop herd-management protocols.

But, what is a VCPR? Here are some criteria to consider from the DACQA guidelines:

• Your veterinarian assumes responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal(s) and the need for medical treatment, and you have agreed to follow your veterinarian's instructions.
• Your veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of your animal(s) to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of their medical condition. This means that your veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with your care and keeping of the animal(s) by virtue of an examination of them or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where they are kept.
• Your veterinarian is readily available, or has arranged for emergency coverage, for follow-up evaluation in the event of adverse reactions or failure of the treatment regimen.

Learn more about your beef-checkoff funded Dairy Beef Quality Assurance program.

New My Plate, My Way Tool

Following release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate icon comes the introduction of the My Plate, My Way interactive eating personality assessment tool developed by the beef checkoff. This tool will help Americans — many of whom strive to eat healthier, but struggle to make it work for their needs and circumstances — better understand their eating “personalities.”

Research shows that people who follow a personalized eating plan have greater success at meeting dietary goals than those following a standard diet. Therefore, the information and resource personalization further aids in success for Americans to adopt healthy eating habits. Read more here.

'Eat Veal' Sweepstakes Winner Announced

Susan Motisi of New Rochelle, N.Y., was awarded $1,000 in free groceries in the “Eat Better. Eat Veal!” sweepstakes. A frequent shopper of her local Super Stop & Shop, Motisi’s winning entry was one of more than 200,000 received in the contest supporting the national checkoff-funded promotion. The campaign, which ran from Jan. 17 through March 31, 2012, aimed to raise awareness of how veal can be part of a healthy diet and encourage consumers to prepare veal more often at home. The 14 grocery chains and 1,231 stores that participated in the program promoted the sweepstakes through their weekly ads and in-store displays. On-pack recipe labels were featured on fresh veal packages to highlight popular veal dishes, including fast veal parmigiana, a 268-calorie dish that can be prepared in less than 15 minutes.

Summer Grilling with Veal

More than 1,300 retail stores have signed up for the beef checkoff's 2012 summer grilling promotion. This campaign encourages retailers to feature veal and stimulate purchases in the coveted sales period between May and August, while emphasizing the ease of use of veal through on-pack recipe labels for at home dining and entertaining. Efforts will be supported through VealMadeEasy.com and social media outreach. 

New York Foodies Tour Veal Farms & Kitchens

Nearly 60 culinary educators, students and foodservice suppliers attended the New York Veal/Dairy Tour, with guests including a culinary blogger and national food industry reporters from Nation’s Restaurant News and Foodservice Director. This checkoff-funded event was developed to educate foodservice partners about the pasture-to-plate process for veal. Participants toured dairy and veal farms in central New York and spent a second day at the New York Wine & Culinary Center learning about veal nutrition, cutting and cooking applications. Participants even took to the kitchens to cook off separate recipes for all to taste and enjoy for lunch. 

VealMadeEasy Live on Twitter

As part of the 2012 social media strategy, the beef checkoff launched the Veal Made Easy Twitter handle in April. Twitter is one of the easiest, most valuable ways to listen to and engage consumers and influencers in conversation about veal and related food-production trends and issues. This social media network is a simple, cost-effective approach to build veal’s brand presence and connect with a highly influential pool of consumers and food-industry influencers. The initiative was launched after research by a social media task force showed that the foodservice and culinary influencer communities had strong presence on Twitter. 

 

1. New animal identification rules aid disease traceability
2. Oklahoma producers have access to new OQBN tool
3. Survey reveals most Americans in favor of COOL
4. Oil ends higher on weaker dollar, supplies weigh
5. Purdue's beef evaluation program receives 10,000th bull
6. Corn planting pace turns from record slow to record fast

1. Michigan hay buyers should plan purchases early
2. U.S. cattle placements rise in April as feed costs subside
3. Ag markets were mixed to start the new week
4. Corn planting pace turns from record slow to record fast
5. Corn and soybean prices continue to retrace 2012 drought rally
6. New school lunch beef recipes win approval from kids, foodservice

1. Tyson selects panel to monitor animal welfare program
2. BeefTalk: How do we get the next generation to raise beef?
3. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?
4. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
5. Boxed beef hits record highs, cattle weak to lower